When the Dragon Roars Book Review

 Brimming with twists, turns, and non-stop drama, When The Dragon Roars by Nesly Clerge is a thriller ideal for any fan of prison-noir.

When The Dragon Roars opens with the protagonist, Frederick Stark, a.k.a The Dragon, at the nadir of his life. Having been betrayed by his ex-wife Kayla, a life one fraught with opportunities is now exceedingly limited. He is in jail, serving an extended sentence for placing the man who cuckholded him in a coma. But Starks is not one to let life get him down that easily-using the acumen that he had acquired as a CEO, he boldly, yet subtly, begins an attempt at ascension of the prison hierarchy. But things start to look hairy when the prison COs suspect him of the two inside job murderers-which he did have a heavy hand in executing.

On the outside, he looks to his private investigator Michael Parker to manage his financials, and that need for a link to the real world becomes even greater as suspicions rise about his deadly activities behind bars. A medical scare only increases his desire to rise to the top and get his affairs in order. But it also seems to make him bolder, as he is able to stab some nastier prison gang members with a poisoned shank, as an act of retaliation for killing a follower prisoner.

With the help of his cellmate Jackson, Starks starts to recruit gang members of his own: Pete, Tommy, Stinky, and Tank. But the gang hostility escalates quickly, and after a brawl, Starks is sent to the SHU, where he has time to contemplate: how got himself in prison in the first place, the women in his life, plans for the future. Also while in the SHU, Stark realizes that his situation is getting more precarious as he is losing protection from the guards. To get more of an advantage, he and his crew turn to the prison black market, and start trading cell phones.

A few days later, Starks meets the elder Gabe Bianchi, who similarly has lost wealth, family, and career reputation. He feels drawn to the Bianchi, but Bianchi is bad news-the former boss of an infamous crime family with a reputation for ruthlessness. He's a dangerous friend to make, but one who could also prove to be useful.

Meanwhile, Starks nineteen-year-old new inmate Kane under his wing and asks him to be his new cellmate. But Kane may not be entirely who he seems.

All this time, Starks's health has only been deteriorating. He goes to the hospital and discovers that he has a dangerously low hemoglobin level and is severely anemic. In the process of finding a donor, discovers that his eldest son, Blake, isn't his biological child. It's seems like the blows just keep coming from his ex-wife Kayla.

Book Review: The Cotton Tree by Sahr Sankoh

 In The Cotton Tree, Sahr Sankoh uses brutal honesty, sarcasm and satire to bring light to the pressing political issues of our times. The book contains 57 poems filled with wit and sarcasm about things we have all probably wanted to say at one time or another, but wouldn't dare to put into words. Sankoh's brilliant use of alliteration brings world events to new heights, poking light fun at a wide array of topics ranging from public transportation to Japanese horror movies to rap music and even touches on controversial topics such as the missing Malaysian flight. Sankoh provides extremely thoughtful, yet humorous insights into pressing issues in today's society as well as pop culture, using light sarcasm and wit without being distasteful or tactless.

The Cotton Tree is different from most poetry books in that the poems aren't the typical eight line rhyming poem that we were taught to compose in elementary school. Rather it is a unique collection of poems ranging of various lengths making light of often controversial topics of today's culture. I especially like how Sankoh is brutally honest in the Forward section of the book, letting us know that we needn't bother dissecting every line of every poem to find some deep and "hidden meaning." His poetry is more of "what you see is what you get." nature. However, there is a brief synopsis of each poem at the end of the book, which in my opinion,, only provides further insight into the brilliant workings of Sankoh enlightened imagination.

One poem that stands out for me is entitled "Starbucks Demeanor" in which Sankoh pokes fun at the popular coffee shop, and the type of clientele that most frequent that iconic coffee establishment, including what type of coffee each "genre" prefers. Another favorite is "The Cassette Tape Culture" which starts out as walk down memory lane about the simplicity of teenage years and how music was such a part of that culture then suddenly takes an unsurprised turn (but I won't spoil it). If I have to choose a poem I liked the least I would say it would be "God Save the Wolf." I personally felt this one was just a tad too distasteful and a bit over the top, in my opinion, but then I wouldn't recommend The Cotton Tree to anyone under the age of sixteen as it touches on some rather adult topics at times.

Overall, The Cotton Tree is a delightfully humorous satirical journey into the world we live in today. One must take these poems with a grain of salt and know that they are meant to shed light and humor on sometimes otherwise dark and morbid topics. This book is not for those who are extremely sensitive or highly moral. It is a brilliant parody of today's hot topics and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sahr Sankoh has a way of making controversial topics seem less daunting. I definitely recommend this book if you have an open mind and a good sense of humor.

How to Create A Cozy Reading Corner Anywhere in 10 Minutes or Less

 There's nothing better than relaxing with a book in your own little reading space. It's the perfect way to wind down from a stressful day, and it makes reading an even better experience (yes, it's possible to make reading even better). With a scented candle, a roaring fireplace, a cup of tea, and a soft, warm blanket, you have everything you need to travel to other worlds through your pages.

However, most of us don't have the space to have a designated reading corner. But what if you could make a temporary one with things you could find around your house, and in less than ten minutes? I'm going to show you how.

What you need:

• A clear space
• Pillows
• A candle
• A book
• A cup of your preferred beverage
• a laptop
• A pillow pack or heating pad
• A blanket

Choosing your spot

The beauty of a temporary reading corner is that you can set it up anywhere. I set mine up on my bed in my dorm room, but you can also set it up on a chair, the couch, even on the floor. Pick a clean space that you can sit on for a long period of time. The last thing you want is to set up a reading corner on dusty, uneven floorboards. How are you supposed to get sucked into your story when you're constantly fidgeting and wiping dust off your pants?

The foundation

Arrange your pillows so you can lean up against them and sit on them comfortably. I find a neck pillow really helpful, especially when I lean up against a wall. Put the blanket down in front of them, ready for you to slip under.

Making it cozy

The next thing to do is to heat the pillow pack in the microwave, or if it's electronic, to just turn it on. Pillow packs are fantastic for reading, especially if you are in a cold room. Having that warmth right under the blankets makes you feel all cozy and immediately helps you to relax. Also, applying heat can help soothe aches and pains, including cramps. It's the perfect thing to help you relax.

Don't already have one? No problem. You can make a pillow pack out of a sock and a couple cups of rice. Simply fill the sock with rice until the sock is about halfway full. Then close off the sock with a knot and you have a new pillow pack. To heat it up, just put it in the microwave for about one to two minutes. If it's not hot enough after two minutes, put it back in for another minute. When it's warm, put it under the blanket to warm it up.

Creating the atmosphere

Next, turn on your laptop and find a video of a fireplace. If it has the crackle of the burning wood, then even better. You can find virtual fireplaces for free on YouTube. There are also a couple of them on Netflix as well, which I often use.

With your fireplace burning and the pillow pack heating your seat, you're almost done. All that's left is the finishing touches. Set the candle on a flat, level surface close to you. If you're sitting on the floor, then make sure it's in a place where you won't kick it over. If it helps, put the candle on a thick book. Having it elevated even a little helps me from bumping into it. Nudging the book with your knee or foot is a lot less disastrous than knocking over a candle in the wrong place and accidentally starting a fire. Putting the candle in a tall candle holder might not hurt either.

Caution: Refreshments May Be Hot

After your reading corner is created, grab your beverage. Like the candle, you'll want it close by without it in danger of spilling. And remember that you're going to be reading. You don't want to hold a sweating glass of water right before you touch pages, just like you don't want to burn yourself with a hot mug that doesn't have a handle. I often use a traveling mug with a lid. It protects my hands and I can grab it quickly without spilling, even when my eyes are glued to the page.

And of course the most important part

Grab your book! Whatever book you wish! Now get under the covers, and enjoy!

3 White Noise Apps for Reading

 Reading a good book for a few minutes is the best and fastest way to escape the pressures and unpleasantness of life. It can help relieve stress and leave you feeling relaxed, happy, and refreshed. The atmosphere around you can be important for you to relax, which is why creating a reading corner is such a good idea. But obviously that's impossible to do on your lunch break or riding the train during your commute. But you can control your atmosphere somewhat. What you hear is the easiest to control. Here are three white noise apps that will help you immerse yourself in your book.

Sleep Pillow Sounds Lite

This is the app I've used the most often for reading or studying. Even though you can upgrade to a paid version with a lot more sounds, the free version is still very good. It has a lot of options including fireplace, rain, thunderstorm, and the ocean to listen to. You can also overlap sounds to create your own mix. I like to combine fireplace and rain so it feels like I'm near a fireplace while it's cold and rainy outside.

White Noise

White Noise has more of a selection than Sleep Pillow for sound. With over 40 different sounds to choose from-- and a few mixes provided as well-- you're bound to find one that you like. My favorites on here is the cat purring, Tibetan singing bowl, and boat swaying in water. Some of the sounds on this one seem to cause more stress than relaxation in my opinion, like the vacuum cleaner or the city streets, but there are definitely sounds on here for everyone.

Relax Melodies

This app is probably the best all around deal. You have a variety of sounds to choose from that you can overlap and mix with easily to create the atmosphere you want, or you can choose (and customize) from the variety of combinations provided for you. My favorite is deserted lake. Not only that but it'll also give you health tips for better sleep and provide guided meditations. Only two meditations are available in the free version and there are a lot of sounds that are only available in the paid version, but it still has a lot of sounds to choose from to help you create an instant vacation on your commute with a good book.